In A Vast Desert Hundreds Of Miles Inland Lie The Decaying Remains Of Aralkum’s Eerie Ship Graveyards

Straddling the former Soviet Union countries of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in Central Asia, the vast arid aspect of the Aralkum Desert stretches out as far as the eye can see. But against this inhospitable landscape, bizarre memorials to a distant past present an eerie sight. Visitors to the remote region witness the rusting carcasses of once-great ships slowly rotting away – many miles from the nearest shore – and wonder what went wrong…

Decades ago, this desert was home to one of the largest lakes in the entire world. Known as the Aral Sea – which translates as the Sea of Islands – the huge body of water covered some 26,300 square miles from Uzbekistan in the south to Kazakhstan in the north. And the lake provided a vital lifeline for the local population in this remote and unforgiving part of the world.

In fact, a flourishing fishing industry once centered on the Aral Sea, providing a great source of sustenance and income for thousands of Uzbekistani and Kazakhstani people. And in the towns and cities surrounding the lake, everything from canning factories to restaurants were built to further the region’s bustling trade.